Edwin Lutyens designed this Grade II-listed Art Deco Midland Bank building whose imposing grandeur inspired the homage to Manhattan's glory days writ large in the dramatic transformation to swanky boutique hotel. Rise in the elevator to the 1930s-style reception lobby on the 6th floor. Here, Honey restaurant and delightful gilt-tiled private members' Club Brass on the floor above monetise those 180º views through original windows; sip cocktails on the roof terrace while scanning the skyline stretching to the Pennines.

Across the lower 5 floors, no expense has been spared in the 60 rooms and suites. Beds are luxuriously decked with faux-fur throws, posh linen and leather headboards, while well-stocked minibars boast cut-glass tumblers, and monochrome bathrooms have the most enormous rain showers. Repro steamer trunks complete with old-school binoculars, gold cocktail trolleys and geometric carpets all evoke bygone glamour. Banking is also referenced in bank vault-style doors, bullion bars and money bags. Brimming with Mancunian confidence, central, comfortable and quirky, you're in for a treat staying here.

A little extra

for i-escape guests

chocolate truffles in the room, bottle of champagne if booking Inner Sanctum or Bank Managers Suite

Highs

Great central location in the city's shopping hub, close to nightlife, restaurants, attractions, transport

The quality of the cleverly designed interiors, from bedroom to bathroom and in Club Brass, cannot be faulted

Genuine, attentive service from staff dressed in pinstripe suits and '40s outfits

We really liked the dishes, many with a modern Northern angle, in Honey

Captivating cocktails

Lows

Prices are steep for top suites and some extras

Some will find the competing themes, including the cast of Roaring Twenties characters as seen in photographs and in the hotel newspaper, a tad contrived and pervasive

Although nearby streets have little traffic, Manchester is on a roll so expect construction noise daytime midweek; windows are double-glazed

Lifts are small, which you'll need to access the compact 6th floor reception

Only Bank Managers Suites have baths

Best time to go

“Manchester is a vibrant and buzzing city year round with much to recommend it in terms of heritage (both art and industry), shopping and lively nightlife. The wonders of the Pennines (to the North) and Peak District (to the East) are just over an hour away by car. It also famously rains a lot although less so in the summer months.”

Our top tips

Check out the Museum of Science and Industry, which has fascinating displays on Manchester's industrial heritage, including transport and textiles, and interactive galleries

Don't miss out on the superb cocktails in Club Brass (you may need a little patience as service can be slow here)

Rooms

There's a deliberate air of exclusivity in the 60 pristine rooms and suites spread across the five floors below Reception. The original central atrium has been filled with dark and decadent Inner Sanctum Suites named after notable Mancunians; in lieu of exterior windows, recline on an emperor bed to watch a 'wonderwall' 60" TV screen.

Sizes and shapes of other rooms vary (the building tapers skyward), but all share a golden age of travel scheme, with faux fur throws, leather headboards, retro steamer trunks and a hotel directory in newspaper form (the Gotham Bugle). Your desk has a swag bag for acquiring loot from pink umbrellas to Batman door tags (charged on check-out), the mini-bar contains a treasure hoard of champagne, posh nibbles and crystal glassware.

Sleek grey marble bathrooms have big monsoon showers, toiletries rest on a gold bullion bar. Only Bank Managers Suites have baths (in-room and roll-top); these and Gotham Suites have seating areas. Our Club room had all we could want in comfort, including a hangover kit, and space enough to swing a cool cat.

Features include:

Air conditioning

Bathrobes

Central heating

Coffee / tea making

Coffee maker

Cots Available

Extra beds

Hairdryer

Ipod dock

Iron

Minibar/fridge

Phone

Radio

Safe box

Satellite TV

Terrace

Toiletries

Umbrella

WiFi

Eating

All meals are served in 6th-floor Honey restaurant, noted for its super city views, wall of typewriters, and bowler hats above the central breakfast bar. Luckily the food matches the setting. Breakfast is both bountiful buffet (tropical fruit, daily muffins, croissants, cereals) and a la carte (we scoffed crushed avocado with chilli, lemon and poached egg, and porridge with syrup and ice cream).

Other meals are chosen from a straightforward menu of British modern classics with a nod to the Northern setting. We savoured pretty beetroot gravadlax, deconstructed coq au vin, and curried monkfish, so were too full for the signature baked chocolate soup. Afternoon tea, bar snacks and sandwiches in Club Brass and room service keep the wolf from the door all other times.

No visit would be complete without plunging into cocktail heaven. You are greeted with a 'dark and stormy' for booking through i-escape (or another concoction of your choice), there's the on-call Martini trolley available early evening daily, and we began dinner with bellinis in beautiful Club Brass - also where we sipped peppermint tea before retiring.

Features include:

Bar

Children's meals

Coffee / tea making

Coffee maker

Minibar/fridge

Organic produce

Restaurant

Restaurants nearby

Room service

Vegetarian menu

Activities

Take advantage of being in the city's shopping hub: designer boutiques are all around (Vivienne Westwood is opposite); the famous Armdale shopping centre is 10 minutes' walk away; vintage emporiums are in the Northern Quarter

Manchester's a lively bar, restaurant and club scene is at hand

Sights nearby include the recently restored Central Library, art and performance centre, HOME, and the excellent Museum of Science and Industry

Head to Salford for The Lowry, and you can take a tour of Media City; on the way visit Coronation Street

Take a day trip to Liverpool, the coast, Southport (from 45 minutes on the train to over an hour by car)

Activities on site or nearby include:

Historical sites

Museums / galleries

Nightlife

Shopping / markets

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome and Manchester makes a great family city break at any time of year. However, the hotel is aimed squarely at adults and there's not much for children to do at the hotel, you'll be out and about during the day. Teenagers will enjoy the city's energy and excitements. And although in the centre, the streets around the hotel are pretty quiet

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Suites can all take extra beds and complimentary baby cots. All rooms bar Club Rooms can take a baby cot. There are 4 sets of interconnecting rooms throughout the hotel, including a pair of Club Rooms and a Club connecting with a Gotham Suite, which provide flexibility for differing budgets and family sizes. Families with teens will need to take connecting or adjacent rooms

Children's meals:

Kids menu

High chair

Kids Activities nearby:

The Museum of Science and Industry

Footie fans have the National Museum of Football, Old Trafford and Etihad Stadium Tours

Arndale Shopping Centre

Manchester Aquatics Centre in Ardwick

National Cycling Centre

Salford offers The Lowry and CBBC tours at MediaCity

Take a ride on the yellow trams

Families Should Know:

Make sure the kids look out for trams on nearby roads. The lifts are small so be prepared for a tight squeeze if you're wrangling stroller, suitcases and children